Device for interchanging empty bobbins for full bobbins in winding machines



Dec. 24, 11940.

SEEGENTHALER DEVICE. FOR INEERCHANGING EMPTY BOBBINS FOR FULL BOBB'INSIN WINDING MACHINES FiledAug. 5, 1958 Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR INTERCHANGING EMPTY BOB- BIN S FOR FULLBOBBINS IN WINDING MA- CHINE S Erlenbach, Switzerland Application August5, 1938, Serial No. 223,370 In Switzerland November 13, 1937 7 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for interchanging empty bobbins forfull bobbins in winding machines of the type disclosed in my U. S.Patent No. 2,131,147 in which a plurality of bobbins are mountedeccentrically ona carriage adapted to be rotated from time to timeto-positions suitable for winding empty bobbins and replacing fullbobbins with empty bobbins.

The device according to the invention operates in such manner thatduring the time in which one bobbin is being wound the full bobbin whichpreviously had been wound andremoved from the winding position isautomatically released from the respective holding device, and thatthereupon an empty bobbin is automatically inserted in this holdingdevice which empty bobbin is subsequently moved into winding position,while a-full bobbin is removed from this position.

Therefore, the time required for winding one bobbin is utilized forautomatically interchanging a previously finished, thatis, a full bobbinfor an empty bobbin, so that an absolutely continuous automaticoperation of the winding machine is rendered possible withoutdiscontinuance of operation during the interchanging of bobbins.Furthermore, a relatively great amount of time is afforded for effectingthe mechanical operations for interchanging an empty bobbin for a fullbobbin.

This device and the operation thereof are hereinafter more explicitlyexplained by taking reference to the accompanying drawing in which anembodiment of the device is illustrated, by way of example only. Thewinding machine, in connection with which the present improvement isillustrated, is of the type disclosed in my U. S. Patent No. 2,131,147and has a displaceably and rockably mounted cop supporting frame orcarriage. In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the machine showing the cop supportingframe in theposition after the interchanging of bobbins is completed;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the cop supporting frame inthe position in which the full cop is released and an empty bobbin issubsequently inserted in the respective holding device;

Fig. 3 shows a vertical section on the line IIIIII in Fig, 2 on a largerscale, and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line IV-IV in Fig. 2 showingparts'of a cop feed mechanism to assume rotationally displaced positionsas regards Fig. 3.

The cop supporting frame or carriage is provided with two face plates I,2 which arefirmly interconnected by a hollow shaft 3 by means of whichthe cop supporting frame is mounted on a fixed bearing shaft 4. The copsupporting frame is advanced step by step longitudinally of the bearingshaft 4 in the direction of the arrow I in Fig. 1 in a manner known perse during the building of the cop with the aid of a feeler (not shown)in dependence on the cop winding in progress of formation. The means foradvancing the frame step by step and the feeler means for controllingthe advance are disclosed in my U. S. Patent No. 2,131,147, wherein theformer comprises principally screw I2, coupling member II, and electricmotor 33 for driving screw I2, the circuit for said motor beingcontrolled by cop feeler I6 which controls the contact arm It of saidcircuit to cause the motor to be energized to move the spindle frameforward stepwise. The face plate I has two projecting arms I, I, whichextend in the plane of the plate and serve for alternate cooperationwith a longitudinal rail 5 arranged in the lower part 5 of the machineframe.

The arm of the face plate I which extends downwardly cooperates with thelongitudinal rail 5' which serves as a stop for this arm, therebypreventing the cop supporting frame or carriage from rotationaldisplacement. The. face plate 2 is provided, in a manner similar to thatdescribed for the face plate I, with two projecting arms 2', 2" whichextend in the plane of the plate and serve for cooperation with thelongitudinal rail 5'.

On the pair of plates I, 2 are mounted two winding spindles 6, 5' indiametrically opposed relation, each spindle being constructed as aroller, the roller of the upper winding spindle 6 which assumes thewinding position (Figs. 1 to 3) being rotated by bearing engagement withan endless driving belt (not shown) which passes over the same. Aspindle drivingmeans of this kind is disclosed in U. S. Patent No.2,131,147 wherein it comprises belt I which alternately drives spindlesI, I. which correspond to spindles 6, 6- of the present mechanism. Eachone of the winding spindles 6, 6 is provided at its end projectingbeyond the face plate I with a cop tube driving head I, 1' respectivelyfor the reception of cop tubes 8, 8' respectively the other ends ofwhich are received within opposing abutment cups of socket 9, 9'respectively.

posing abutment cup 9 or 9. The cups 9, 9' are arranged on plates Ill, Irespectively which are pivotally connected to a plate H and formtogether therewith a counter holding device for the cop tubes. The plateH is firmly connected to the face plate I by a tube l2 passing over thebearing shaft 4, thus forming a component part of the rockable copsupporting frame. Each of the two plates ll], ID of the counter holdingdevice is urged in the direction towards the respective driving head Ior I by leaf springs l3, [3' respectively, for the purpose of retainingthe cop tubes in the holding devices.

In the lower part 5 of the machine frame a stop lever 14 is providedwhich is normally held in bearing engagement with a stationary counterface by a tension spring IS. The oncoming winding thread passes over athread guide [6 which reciprocates during the operation of the Windingmachine through a constant range corresponding to the length of cone ofthe cop winding in progress of formation, as indicated by the doublearrow in Figs. 1 and 2.

As the winding on the cop tube 8 is completed the arm 2 of the faceplate 2 arrives at a point beyond the end of the longitudinal rail 5,whereupon the cop supporting frame is rocked round the bearing shaft 4through half a revolution, preferably automatically (by means notshown), in

the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3. The means for rocking theframe per se forms no part of the present invention and therefore it hasbeen omitted from the present disclosure for the sake of simplicity, butsuch means is disclosed in my U. S. Patent No. 2,131,147 wherein itcomprises principally belt I and extension member 26 which cooperateswith the belt for rocking the frame. Simultaneously with this rockingmovement the cop supporting frame is longitudinally displaced relativeto the bearing shaft 4 by spring action, whereby it is returned intoinitial position.

By effect of this rocking movement of the cop supporting frame, incourse of which the arm I of the face plate I passes through a notch inthe longitudinal rail 5', the respective winding spindle 6 or 6' isrocked out of winding position together with the corresponding full coptube 8 or 8' and instead the winding spindle carrying an empty cop tubeis rocked into this position in which it is immediately driven by theendless driving belt which comes into frictional engagement therewith.At the same time as this rocking movement occurs, the carriage is alsoretracted longitudinally into its initial position by means similar tothe spring l9 and arm 10 disclosed in my Patent No. 2,131,147. Therocking movement of the cop supporting frame during which the cop tubes8, 8 perform a gyrating movement is limited by the arms I and 2' of theface plates 0 I, 2 hitting the lower longitudinal rail 5, whereby thecop supporting frame is secured in its new position of adjustment at thesame time. On the return of the cop supporting frame into initialposition, that is, after it has been turned through I80, the oncomingwinding thread is wound on the empty cop tube moved into windingposition, while the cop supporting frame is again fed step by step inthe direction of the arrow I in Fig. 1 under the control of the feelerprovided.

As the cop supporting frame is displaced step by step together with thefull cop tube 8' having been moved out of winding position (Fig. 1), theplate III of the counter holding device cooperates with the stop leverl4, so that its translatory movement is discontinued by the stop leverI4 acting on its free end and the plate 10 is rocked about its pivotjoint on the plate H. Consequently the full cop tube 8' is released fromengagement with the respective holding device and is thus expelled fromthe resilient abutment of 5 the spindle driving head 'I" (Fig. 2) so asto drop into a lower receptacle (not shown). The plate ID remains inrocked position for a certain time, that is, until it slides off theupperl end of the stop lever I4, whereupon it is rocked back into 10position of rest again by action of the associated spring. By effect ofthis action, the plate I0 forces an empty cop tube into engagement withthe spindle driving head I which tube was moved into initial feedingposition after the full cop tube 15 had been released, that is,delivered, so that this empty cop tube is secured in position betweenthe spindle driving head I and the abutment 9.

Various auxiliary devices are secured on the lower part of the machineframe, by means of 20 depending carrier members, and are hereinafterexplicitly explained. The numeral l1 designates a box-like magazine forempty cop tubes. At the lower end of the magazine I! which is obliquelydisposed, two leaf springs 18, I9 are arranged, 25 as shown in Fig. 3,which serve for preventing the series of superposed empty cop tubes fromunintentionally dropping out of the magazine l1. On a shaft 20 a lever2| is secured which carries on its outer end a rod 22 extendingperpendicular- 30 ly thereto. On the rod 22- two gripper arms 23 aremounted for limited rocking movement, and are urged by torsion springs22 in the direction towards the lower end of the magazine I1 and each ofwhich is provided with a concaved seating 23 35 for successivelyreceiving the empty cop tubes for feeding them from the magazine H tothe cop supporting frame.

The oscillatory cop feed mechanism thus formed is further provided witha feed control member 40 24 which is also mounted on the shaft 20, andis provided with a specially shaped head for cooperation with the emptycop tube having been received in the seatings 23' of the gripper arms23, in such manner, that this cop tube does not 45 drop out of themechanism during the subsequent rocking movement of the latter into araised position (hereinafter explained). On the shaft 20 alpinion 25 isfixed which meshes with a toothed I pivotal sector 26. This sector 26,which is mount- 50 ed on a pin 21, is connected by a link 28 with acrank pin 29 which in turn is connected with a shaft 30 by means of acrank arm. On the shaft 30 a clutch member 3| is axially displaceablyarranged for common rotation therewith, 55 and a complementary clutchmember 32 is mounted on the shaft 30 and is operatively connected with achain drive 34 through the intermediary of a spur gear drive 33,cooperating intermittently with the member 3 I During the operation 60of the machine the clutch member 32 is continuously driven.

The clutch member 3| is provided with a disk 35 having a lateral camtrack 35'. In a circumferential groove of the clutch member 3| a 55setting lever 36 engages, said setting lever being mounted on a bolt 31,and cooperates with a guide roller 38 which is arranged on aspring-loaded lever 39. For the above-mentioned purpose the settinglever 36 is provided with two oblique faces 70 for alternate cooperationwith the roller 33. With the setting-lever 36 cooperates an abutment 49which is arranged on an arm 4| which is rotatably mounted on anextension 3 of hollow spindle 3 which it is coupled axially so that itmoves 75 axially with the carriage but does not partake of the rotaryrocking movements which the cop supporting carriage carries out forremoving the full cop tubes from the winding position and for conveyingan empty cop tube into the winding position. The free end of arm 4|bears laterally against the lower part 5 of the machine frame.

Each time an empty cop tube must be fed to the cop supporting frame fromout of the magazine H, the abutment 40 cooperates with the setting lever36 (Fig. 1) which is then rocked to the right as regards Fig. 1 untilits tip rides up over the dead center with respect to the roller 38 onthe lever 39, whereupon the setting lever 36 is swung abruptly into theother end position shown in Fig. 2 under the influence of the rollercarrier lever 39. In this way, the clutch member 3| is connected and,consequently, the shaft 30 is driven and the crank pin 29 is rocked fromthe position shown in Fig. 3 in the direction of the arrow indicated, sothat the toothed sector 26 is rocked back and forth.

Consequently, the cop feed mechanism is rocked, at first, for a shortdistance in the direction of arrow 0. in Fig. 3, thus towards themagazine l1, and the inclined face of the head of lever 24 strikesagainst the upper part of the lowermost cop tube thus forcing said tubedownwardly, overcoming the resistance of retaining springs l8, It]. Thecop then comes to rest in the recess 23 with which the member 24 thencoopcrates for holding the tube therein. The feed members 23, 24 thenrock in the opposite direction, i. e., in the direction of arrow 2),into the position shown in Fig. 4. In this way, the empty cop tubehaving been grasped by the cop feed mechanism is brought into theinitial feeding position, that is, in between the driving head I and theplate Ill, plate It! having been rocked to open position as shown inFig. 2 When the empty cop tube arrives at the initial feeding position,

, and upon further longitudinal movement of the carriage, the plateslides across the stop lever l4 and then brings the holding socket 9' tobear against the cop tube end, thereby pressing the other end into thedriving head i, so that the cop tube is retained in the holding devicesI, 9'. Thereupon, the cop feed mechanism returns into its initialposition.

The above-described movements of the cop feed mechanism are effectedwhile the crank pin 29 completes a part of its rotary course, as will bereadily understood. While the crank pin 29 travels through the lastportion of its course, the setting lever 36 is rocked past its deadcenter by the cam track 35 of the disk 35 in the direction causing it tocooperate with its other oblique face with the roller of carrier lever39, as shown in Fig. 1. By this means, the clutch member 3| isdisconnected and thus the initial condition of the clutching device foractuating the crank pin 29 is restored. As the cop supporting framereturns into initial position, the respective plate It or l ofthecounter bearing member slides across the stop lever l4, due to the copsupporting frame, having been rocked, meeting with the stop lever M, insuch manner, that the latter evades, that is, rocks out of position, byenergizing the associated spring I5.

Owing to the cop tube magazine being situated at a lower level than thecop tubes mounted in the cop supporting frame, the operation of thedevice can be watched without the sight being obstructed. The device canbe, so to speak, added to the machine frame as a separate unit. Itwillbe understood that the construction of details of the device may bevaried from the showing of the drawing.

The stop lever l4 may be adjustable so as to allow of adjusting the samein accordance with the length of the bobbins to be produced as well asin precise agreement with a predetermined time of operation.

In operation, when a cop tube has been fully wound, the spindle framewill have progressed so far to the right in its stepwise movement thatan arm I or will be able to pass through a slot in guide rails 5, andthe carriage is then rocked through 180 by the driving belt. At the sametime, the carriage will be moved longitudinally, to the left in Figs. 1and 2, to the starting position for winding an empty cop tube. Duringthis longitudinal movement to the left, the hinged plate In, or ID, isable to pass pivoted stop lever M by rocking said lever to the left. Asthe winding operation proceeds, the carriage frame moves to the right byprogressive stepwise movements. When it reaches the position shown inFig. 2, hinged plate In or It will have engaged stop lever M whichcannot pivot to the right, and plate ID or H! with its abutment 9 or 9'will'be swung away from socket I or I, and therefore full cop 8 will bereleased and discharged.

Just after the full cop is released, arm 48 swings clutch lever 36 pastthe center position and, under the influence of roller 38 and itsactuating spring, lever 36 and clutch member 35 are thrown to the rightwith the member 35 in engaging relation with clutch-member 32, wherebythe empty cop feeding means is actuated. Through the train of actuatinggearing, including shaft 39, crank 29, rod 28, and gears 25 and 26, arms2| and 24 are first swung slightly in the counterclockwise direction tograsp an empty cop and are then swung clockwise in Fig. 3, carrying thecop feed pocket formed between arm 24 and spring 23 to a positionextending in line with spindle head 1 or and abutment 9 or 8. As plateIn or III clears the top of stop M, it spring back toward spindle head Ior 1' and the ends of the empty cop are retained between head i or andabutment 9 or 9', and the arms 2| and 24. then return to their startingpositions.

As the clutch member 35 turns further, its cam face 35' engages lever 36and swings it to the left and past its dead center with respect toroller 38, and the clutch is thereby disengaged. The winding apparatusthen proceeds with its winding operation and stepwise movement to theright until one of the arms I or I" again passes through the notch inrail 5','at which time the sequence of operations above described isrepeated.

What I claim is:

1. Cop tube changing mechanism for cop winding machines of the kindhaving a machine frame, a rotatable and longitudinally movable spindlecarriage, a plurality of spindles mounted in said carriage and in whichsuccessive rotational movements of the carriage bring empty cop tubesinto winding position and remove full tubes from winding position intoposition to be removed and substituted by empty tubes, said tubechanging mechanism comprising two pairs of cop tube end holding devices,one of said devices of each pair being a resiliently axially movablesocket, a stop for moving said socket from an end of a fully wound coptube in position to be removed during longitudinal movement of thecarriage during the winding of another cop tube for releasing the fullione of'said devices of each pair being a resiliently 2520f the carriagewhich accompanies the winding tube, means including gearing and a clutchfor feeding an empty cop tube into'position to be held by said holdingdevices while said socket is in removed position, and means forresiliently returning said socket to cop tube engaging position when thelongitudinal movement of the carriage carries the socket past said stop.

2. Cop tube changing mechanism for cop winding machines of the kindhaving a machine frame, a rotatable and longitudinally movable spindlecarriage, a plurality of spindles mounted in said carriage and in whichsaid carriage performs longitudinal reciprocation as a tube is wound andalso performs successive rotational movements which bring empty coptubes intowinding posi tion and remove full tubes from winding positioninto position to be .removed and substituted by empty tubes, said tubechanging mechanism comprising two pairs of cop tube end holding devices,

axially movable socket, a stop pivoted for movement in only onedirection for'moving said socket from an end of a fully wound cop tubein position to be removed during the longitudinal movement of anothercop tube for releasing the full tube, means for feeding an empty coptube into position to be held by .said holding devices while said socketis in removed position, said socket being released from said stop duringthe progress of the longitudinal movement of the carriage so that saidresiliently movable socket returns to tube holding position and thusholds the empty tube that had been fed into position to be held,

and during the return longitudinal movement of the carriage the pivotedstop is pivotally moved out of the path of movement of a tube holdingsocket by engagement of the socket therewith.

3. Cop tube changing mechanism for cop winding machines of the kindhaving a machine frame, a rotatable and longitudinally movable spindlecarriage, a plurality of spindles mounted in said carriage and in whichsuccessive rotational movements of the carriage bring empty cop tubesinto winding position and remove full tubes from winding position intoposition to be removed and substituted by empty tubes, said tubechanging mechanism comprising two pairs of cop tube end holding devices,one of said devices of each pair -being a resiliently axially movablesocket, a stop pivoted for'movement in only one direction for engagingand moving a movable socket from an end of a fully wound cop tube inposition to be removed during the winding of another cop tube forreleasing the full tube, said movable socket being brought intoengagement with said stop by the longitudinal movement of the socket,means for feeding an empty cop tube into position to be held by saidholding devices while said socket is in removed position, said meansincluding a drive clutch and means for engaging and disengaging saidclutch in dependence on the longitudinal movement of the carriage, saidsocket being released from said stop by the continued longitudinalmovement of the socket to return to tube holding position resiliently,said stop allowing movement of said movable sockets in the oppositedirection by pivoting out of the path thereof when engaged thereby.

4. Cop tube changing mechanism for cop winding machines of the kindhaving a machine frame, a rotatable'and longitudinally movable spindlecarriage, a plurality of spindles mounted in said carriage and in whichsuccessive rotational movements of the carriage bring empty cop tubesinto winding position and remove full tubes from winding position intoposition to be removed andv substituted by empty tubes, said tubechanging mechanism comprising two pairs of cop tube end holding devices,one of said devices of each pair being a resiliently axially movablesocket, means including a stop pivoted for movement in only onedirection for engaging and moving a movable socket from an end of afully wound cop tube in position to be removed during the winding ofanother cop tube for releasing the full tube, means for feeding an emptycop tube into position to be held by said holding devices while saidsocket is in removed position, said means including a drive clutch andmeans for engaging and disengaging said clutch in dependence on thelongitudinal movement of the carriage, a tube supply chute, a pair ofarms, one arm having a recess for receiving an empty tube and the otherarm serving as a contact for retaining a tube in said recess, means forswinging both of said arms together when the clutch is engaged firsttoward said tube supply chute to receive a tube and then in the oppositedirection to carry the tube into position to be received by the tubeholding devices, said removed socket being withdrawn from engagementwith said stop by the continued longitudinal movement thereof to allowsaid socket to return to tube holding position resiliently.

5. Cop tube changing mechanism for cop winding machines of the kindhaving a machine frame, a rotatable and longitudinally movable spindlecarriage, a plurality of spindles mounted in said carriage and in whichsuccessive rotational movements of the carriage bring empty cop tubesinto winding position and remove full tubes from winding position intoposition to be removed and substituted by empty tubes, said tubechanging mechanism comprising two pairs of cop tube end holding devices,one of said devices of each pair being a resiliently axially movablesocket, means including a stop pivoted for movement in only onedirection located in the path of longitudinal movement of the movablesocket of a full cop tube for moving said socket from an end of a fullywound cop tube in position to be removed during the winding of anothercop tube for releasing the full tube, means for feeding an empty coptube into position to be held by the pair of holding devices to whichsaid removed socket belongs while said socket is in removed position,said means including a drive clutch and means for engaging anddisengaging said clutch in dependence on the longitudinal movement ofthe carriage, a cop tube supply device, a pair of arms, one arm having arecess for receiving an empty tube from said device and the other armserving as a contact for retaining a tube in said recess, meansincluding a crank drive and a gear drive for rocking both of said armstogether when the clutch is engaged first toward a tube supply toreceive a tube from said supply device and then in the oppositedirection to carry the tube into position to be received by the tubeholding devices, said removed socket being withdrawn from engagementwith said stop by the continued longitudinal movement thereof to allowsaid socket to return to tube holding position resiliently.

6. Cop tube changing mechanism for cop winding machines of the kindhaving a machine frame, a rotatable and longitudinally movable spindlecarriage, a plurality of spindles mounted in said carriage and in whichsuccessive rotational movements of the carriage bring empty cop tubesinto winding position and remove full tubes from winding position intoposition to be removed and substituted by empty tubes, said tubechanging mechanism comprising two pairs of cop tube end holding devices,one of said devices of each pair being a resiliently axially movablesocket, means including a stop pivoted for movement in only onedirection for engaging and moving a movable socket from an end of afully Wound cop tube in position to be removed during the winding ofanother cop tube for releasing the full tube, said movable socket beingbrought into 'engagement with said stop by the longitudinal movement ofsaid socket, means for feeding an empty cop tube into position to beheld by said holding devices while said socket is in removed position,said means including a drive clutch and a trip device having a settingarm actuated by the longitudinal movement of the carriage for engagingand disengaging said clutch in dependence on the longitudinal movementof the carriage, said removed socket being withdrawn from engagementwith said stop by the continued longitudinal movement thereof to allowsaid socket to return to tube holding position resiliently.

'7. Cop tube changing mechanism for cop winding machines of the kindhaving a machine frame, a rotatable and longitudinally movable spindlecarriage, a plurality of spindles mounted in said carriage and in whichsuccessive rotational movements of the carriage bring empty cop tubesinto winding position and remove full tubes from winding position intoposition to be removed and substituted by empty tubes, said tubechanging mechanism comprising two pairs of cop tube end holding devices,one of said devices of each pair being a resiliently axially movablesocket, means including a stop pivoted for movement in only onedirection and located in the path of longitudinal movement of themovable socket of a full cop tube for engaging and moving said socketfrom an end of a fully wound cop tube in position to be removed duringthe winding of another cop tube for releasing the full tube, an emptycop tube reservoir located at a lower level than the spindles of thespindle carriage, automatic means for feeding an empty cop tube fromsaid reservoir into position to be held by said holding devices whilesaid socket is in removed position, and said removed socket beingwithdrawn from engagement with said stop by the continued longitudinalmovement thereof to allow said socket to return to tube holding positionresiliently.

WALTER SIEGENTHALER.

